The Church is urging Europe to take responsibility for the problem of irregular immigration and “give a humane answer to a deeply human crisis”.

I have faith our politicians know what our international obligations are

Ahead of the Pope’s visit to Lampedusa tomorrow, Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech are calling on Europe to share the burden.

“We appreciate, understand and appeal for all the nations to feel responsible for what is being described as a crisis,” Mgr Scicluna said.

When contacted, the bishops said the Church viewed the Pope’s visit to the Italian island as an “eloquent” gesture they were viewing with great interest. “The Pope’s visit is a powerful message in favour of life, human dignity and a call for justice... We were immigrants yesterday and can be immigrants tomorrow – it’s the story of humanity,” Mgr Grech said.

The Vatican announced that Pope Francis was expected to meet immigrants who survived the crossing and encouraged the local population to help people in need.

Lampedusa, as well as Malta, is one of the nearest gateways to Europe for tens of thousands of migrants who have made the crossing in recent years, on overburdened and poorly equipped wooden boats.

An estimated 600 immigrants and asylum seekers landed in Malta, while another 7,800 reached Italy in the first half of this year.

The subject of immigration in Malta, which had calmed down in the past couple of years, is again on the national agenda after 291 migrants were rescued off a sinking boat.

Their arrival prompted Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to phone EU Council President Hermann Van Rompuy to give him formal notice that Malta would use its “powers” to demand solidarity on immigration.

Dr Muscat said Malta would use its EU veto on unrelated issues if member states failed to share the burden, and did not exclude using the controversial push-back policy as long as Libya was deemed safe.

The UN refugee agency has already made it clear that the forced return or push-back of asylum seekers to Libya would breach international law.

Asked to react to the Prime Minister’s comments, both bishops were careful not to be drawn into politics.

“Our message is one of solidarity and we will leave political situations and resolution of problems to the politicians... I think burden sharing is an integral part of the gospel... which is not being practised by Europe,” Mgr Scicluna said.

Mgr Grech said the Church had long voiced its stand on burden sharing and acknowledged the Prime Minister was carrying a “heavy burden”. It was time everybody sat around a table to address this crisis.

Commenting on Dr Muscat’s talk of sending immigrants back to Libya, Mgr Grech said: “I have faith that our politicians are serious and know what our international obligations are.”

Mgr Grech has been at the forefront of defending immigrants’ rights and a vocal critic against the detention policy in Malta.

Ironically, four days before the arrival of the 291 immigrants, he again addressed the subject of immigrants escaping the “hell” they lived in during his homily to mark the feast of St Peter and St Paul.

Uncannily foreseeing what would unfold just days later, he added: “Europe cannot leave us to carry this burden alone. The passiveness of Europe can lead to greater injustices.”